Is there a ready made filter in the UK that is easy to buy and will filter washed BD to the reqd spec so as not to clog the fuel filter in my landrover TD5

I think we filter the biodiesel to prevent wear, rather than to prevent filter clogging. People who don't filter don't experience onboard filter clogging (onboard filters are much coarser than the 5 micron ones we generally use to take out abrasives)... Straight vegetable oil users on the other hand sometimes do experience filter clogging if they don't prefilter their oil- waste SVO does contain bigger particles or clumps (of food?). Making biodiesel out of that same kind of oil makes all the heavy food particles settle into the 'glycerine' layer so they're not going to end up clogging your car onboard filter.

Filters sometimes DO clog on biodiesel when you first start using it, though. This is because the biodiesel dissolves chunks of petroleum deposits that are in your fuel tank, and sends them on their merry way to your filter. The solution is just to be prepared to change your filters more often, in the beginning. It';s mostly a problem with older high-mileage vehicle, but it isn't a serious problem.

If this clogging happens, it isn't because something is wrong with your fuel- it's just a characteristic of biodiesel. (you experience clogging as a loss of power or a stuttering or surging, apparently) On the other hand it may never happen- I've run several vehicles on biodiesel and never had this problem personally.

mark

[This message was edited by girl mark on 08 May 2003 at 07:04 PM.]

I personally filter mine to 1 micron, through a commercial filter. It is done quite easily, this makes it very clean for use obviously. Any clogging will be from crap left by mineral diesel in your tank.

I put in some biodiesel the other day which would have been between 40 and 50 degress hot/warm. It must have softened something in the tank, I replaced my filters twice within 60 kms, they blocked dramatically. Third time lucky, I think its gone now, but time will tell. Simply changing the filter cleared the issue both times, so its unlikely to be anything else.

Be careful, an aftermarket filter will save you lots too, look for CAV filters perhaps.

Sorry about that, slow response and I forgot if I had already clicked.

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Tilly SBC/IBA

[This message was edited by Tilly on 09 May 2003 at 10:26 AM.]

Thanks for replies can anyone suggest a method of filtering the washd bio with having to pump in mechanically through a filter im just not sure the Slight cloudy nature of my washed BD is going to harm my engine internallly. It is PH 7.1 ( just has slight cloud could be soap ) ?suggestions gratefully recieved.

Let your biodiesel dry in an open-top container.
I would NOT recommend using hazy fuel.

A good test would be to take a sample of the washed biodiesel and heat it. If it clears when heated it is water.

Measuring the pH of biodiesel is NOT a good quality check.

Tilly SBC/IBA

I don't entirely agree that if it clears on heating it necessarily means it's water. I'm pretty sure that you can get any type of haze in biodiesel (or in vegoil) to clear if you heat the substance. It will reappear upon cooling (unless you boiled the water off). I think that heating some unwashed fuel that has a haze due to soap clears it temporarily as well (I know this cause someone in our coop got confused about all the quality tests and did this and confused himself even more). But in general, washed fuel that doesn't clear quickly (a day or two, in an open barrel preferably) contains water, and it retains that water because there's something else in there (soap) that holds on to the water, so washing it one more time (in less water) is my strategy if the fuel won't clear.

I notice that fuel that isn't sufficiently 'finished' washing can still look perfectly clear on the last couple of washes, just from the wash tank standing in the sun (it's not terribly hot here right now, but the slight elevated temperature in direct sunlight is enough). I always test for 'clarity' (as a way to see if you're done washing) by cooling a sample slightly or looking at it at nighttime, because a wide range of watery biodiesel will still look clear at a very slightly elevated temperature.

Thanks guys yes my sample does clear when heated but return cloudy when cool. In Ireland we cannot avail of sunny days like you guys in AUS and CA. I have set it bubble washing again with less water in the hope that all remaining soap drops out. Fingers crossed ....